Nostra:Holy Land: Difference between revisions

The ecclesiastical hat is a distinctive part of the achievement of arms of a Catholic cleric. This hat, also called a [[wikipedia:Galero|galero]], is a central element of the cardinal's coat of arms. The galero is ornamented with tassels on both sides, also called fiocchi. The color of the hat and number of tassels indicate the cleric's place in the ecclesiastical hierarchy. Generally, priests, abbots and ministers have a black hat with cords and tassels, the number depending upon their rank. Bishops generally use a green hat with green cords and six green tassels on each side, archbishops have likewise a green hat with green cords and ten green tassels on each side, and cardinals have a red hat with red cords and fifteen red tassels on each side. It also contains a cross: In the Catholic Church, display of a cross behind the shield is restricted to bishops and archbishops as a mark of their dignity and office. The cross of an ordinary bishop has a single horizontal bar or traverse, also known as the [[wikipedia:Latin_cross|Latin cross]]. A archbishop or patriarch uses the [[wikipedia:Archiepiscopal_cross|Archiepiscopal cross]] with two traverses, also known as the [[wikipedia:Patriarchal_cross|Patriarchal cross]]. The [[wikipedia:Papal_cross|Papal cross]] has three traverses. The shield is decorated with symbols that are directly or indirectly connected with the Holy Land. As with the other coats of arms, the Jerusalem cross is visible. The sand and the castle are intended to refer to the local natural and urban infrastructural conditions of the Middle East. On the blue background, which is meant to represent the sky, the [[wikipedia:Star_of_Bethlehem|Star of Bethlehem]] is depicted, which, according to biblical tradition, was visible at the birth of Christ. The praise C''hristus imperat'', taken from the famous [[wikipedia:Laudes_Regiae|Laudes Regiae]], serves as motto of the Cardinal's coat of arms and translates as ''Christ commands''.